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Low immunity, children and pregnancy
Learn how to stay food safe when you have lower immunity. With on-going illness, medication, a recent hospital stay, pregnancy, being very young or frail, your risk of getting sick from food is higher than normal.
When you are less able to fight the harmful pathogens that can cause a foodborne illness, you are more likely to get sick and your illness may be more serious.
No food is 100 percent safe at all times for all people. There are some simple food safety rules to help you and your family avoid getting sick from foodborne illness if you or anyone in your family has low immunity.
Food that may be contaminated with bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses and toxins can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea or worse. ‘Foodborne illness’ is the term used when you are sick because of contaminated food.
Two important ways to reduce your risk from contaminated food are by following the:
• 4Cs rule – clean, cook, cover, chill [NZ Foodsafe Partnership]
• 20+20 hand washing rule before and after handling food [NZ Foodsafe Partnership]
What you need to do to reduce your risk of getting a foodborne illness may depend on what is causing your low immunity. Your doctor or dietician may have special advice for you based on the state of your immunity or your individual circumstances. Ask your doctor if you have low immunity.
Reasons why your immunity might be low
Anyone suffering a chronic illness, recovering from surgery, the frail elderly, very young babies and pregnant women may suffer low immunity. More detail is in the chart below.
Illness |
Why this might cause your immunity to be lower than normal |
Cancer |
If you have advanced cancer or are taking chemotherapy drugs or having radiotherapy. |
HIV/Aids |
HIV/Aids directly affects your immune system’s cells. If your disease is more advanced you have a higher risk of infection. |
Inflammatory bowel disease |
If you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Especially if you are taking higher doses of drugs such as steroids (cortisone, prednisone), or immune suppressants such as salazopyrine. |
Neutropenia (low white blood cell count) |
A low blood neutrophil cell count (particularly less than 0.5 x 109 cells/L), can result in a higher risk of infection. Neutropenia may occur with radiation therapy or chemotherapy. |
Surgical or medical treatments |
Why this might cause your immunity to be lower than normal |
Transplant procedures |
Especially if your transplant (kidney, liver, heart, lung, bone marrow) was recent. Or if you are taking anti-rejection drugs such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine. |
Immunosuppressive drugs |
Prednisone and azathioprine are used for medical conditions, including arthritis and autoimmune disease. Ask your doctor whether you are on this type of drug and if the dose is enough to leave you at risk of a foodborne illness. |
Low stomach acidity |
Stomach acid provides a defence by killing many bacteria. When acid is absent or reduced, bacteria may grow and cause an infection. Your immunity may be lower if you have had a stomach operation that has reduced the amount of acid your stomach produces. Alternatively, if you are on medication for gastric reflux, or are regularly taking antacids. |
Being older or very young and sick |
Why this might cause your immunity to be lower than normal |
Elderly |
If you are an older person and have ongoing (chronic) illnesses, you may have low immunity. |
Premature babies and sick children |
Especially babies who are very premature and children who have other serious illnesses. |
Pregnancy |
Why this might cause your immunity to be lower than normal |
Pregnancy |
While you are pregnant your levels of immunity are lower than usual. |
Food safety when you have low immunity
What you can do to reduce your risk from foodborne illness when you have low immunity
Food safety in pregnancy
If you are pregnant, foodborne illness can be more serious for you and your unborn child. There are special things to be aware of about food safety when you are pregnant.
Food safety when you are pregnant
List of safe foods during pregnancy
Food safety for babies, infants and toddlers
Make safe food choices for your baby, infant or toddler
Food safety for older people
Older people may have concerns about loosing weight, eating well and food safety when preparing or reheating meals.
Food safety advice and meal suggestions for older people
How to manage vitamin k levels when you are taking warfarin or other blood thinning medications
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
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